Electric igniting device for explosive-engines.



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Patented Apr. 21, 1914 L. C. JACKSON.

BLEGTRIG IGNITING DEVICE POR BXPLosIvE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1906. 1,093,857.

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LUCIAN C. JACKSON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC IGNITING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. e1, 1914.

Application led May 16, 1906. Serial No. 317,231.

To all whom t may concern;

Be it known that 1, LUcrAN C. JACKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butl'alo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Electric 1gniting Devices for Explosive-Engines, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to explosive engines, and particularly to electrical devices employed for igniting the charge or explosive mixture in the cylinder by means of a spark at the proper time.

The objects of my invention, are to provide a device which is simple and inexpensive in construction, positive in operation, and having adjustments ior controllingthe timing of the electrical spark during the operation of an engine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1l is a plan, partly in section on the line C D of Figs 2 and 3, of an electrical igniting device embodying the principles of niy invention. Fig. 2, is an elevation, partly in section, on line E F of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a sectional elevation, on the line A B of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the details of construction illustrated in the drawings, 1 is a casing or frame, for holding certain parts of the operating mechanism. of my improved electric igniting device and having a bracket or foot 2, for attaching to a suitable part of an engine. l

The casing 1 is bored at one end for the reception of a cylindrical hammer 3 having a iiange 4 at one end. Inside of the casing` 1 and surrounding the hammer 3, is a coiled compression spring 5, one end of which bears against the flange 4, of the hammer 3 and the other end of which bears against the cap 6. Cap 6 is screwed into the casing` 1 and has a central opening which accommodates the cylindrical hammer 3. Located in the hammer 3 is another compression spring 7, one end of which bears against the head 8 of the rod 9, and the other end of which bears against the cap 10. Screwed into the end of the hammer 3 is a cap 10, which rests against the buiii'er 17, and has a hole 11 through it for apurpose to be described later. The rod 9 fits in one end ot the hammer 3 and is threaded o-n the end -of 4the pin 22.

opposite its head for vthe purpose of adjustment when screwedinto the end piece 12 where it is locked in place by the nut 13. The rod-end 12 is connected to the crank 14, by means ofl the pin 15, which is fas tened to 12, but projects through the elongated hole 16 of the crank 14. The casing 1 is bored at its other end to receive the crosshead 1S, which carries the end piece 19 of the trip-rod 20` and the trip 21, by means One end of trip-rod 20 is threaded for the purpose of adjustment when screwed into theendpiece 19 where it is locked in place by means of the nut 23. The opposite end of thev trip-rod 20 has .a hole 24 toaccommo'date a crankpin, (not shown), said crankwpin being suitably attached to a plate on the end of the side shaft, or other suitable part, of an explosive engine. The center of hole 24 travels in a circular path indicated by the dotted circle 25.

26 is a spring, one end of which is attached to the cross-head 18 by means of the screw 27and nut 28, andthe other end of which presses the trip 21 against the adjusting screw 29.

32 is a spring pointer, one end of which is fastened to the casing 1 with a screw 33, and is adapted to register with notches in the head of the adjusting screw 29.

30 is an inclined surface on the trip 21 which comes in contact with the screw 29 after the said trip is moved so its end 31 is in contact with the cap 10.

56 is an opening in the casing 1 for the purpose of exposing the cap 10 and end 31 of the trip 21 to observe if they are properly working at all times.

34 is an igniter plug, the end 35 of which is designed to project into the combustion chamber of an explosive engine.

36 and 37 are two rods passing through the igniter plug 34, 37 being insulated from the plug 34 by means of the insulators 38 and 39. The rod 36 has the crank 14 fastened to its outer end and has an arm 40 carrying the contact piece 41 and which is arranged to meet the contact piece 42 on the rod 37vwhen rod 36 is partly rotated. The contact piece 41 is a straight piece across the arm 40, while the contact piece 42 is spirally mounted around the end 43 of the vrod 37. This arrangement of the contact pieces 41 and 42, allo-ws for equal wear along the entire length of each one, by turning the rod 37 a short distance, after a few hours use in each position.

44, 44, and 45, 45, are washers of suitable packing material to make a tight oint.

46 is a hard washer between the flange 47 on the rod 37 and the packing washer 44, while 48 is a like hard washer between the nut 49, on the rod 37, and the packing washer 45.

`50 and 51 are two nuts, on the rod 37, for clamping the wire 53, and 52 is a lock nut to hold nut 51 from turning.

54 is a wire connected at one end to the igniter plug 34 by means of a screw 55, and is suitably arranged in an electrical circuit with the wire 53, so that when the contact pieces 41 and 42 are brought together, a current flows through them and the said wires. `When contact between the contact pieces 41 and 42 is broken, by the partial revolution of the rod 36, a spark is formed between the pieces 41 and 42, and the charge in the engine, which surrounds these pieces, is ignited.

The operation of the igniting device is as follows: When an engine, to which my igniting device is attached, is in operation, the center of the hole 24, in the end of the triprod 20, travels continuously around a circular path, represented by the circle 25, and

-in -the direction indicated by the arrow.

StartingV in the position shown in Fig. 1, which is at the end of its stroke, as the center of the hole 24 moves in the path 25, and as indicated by the arrow, the crosshead 18 moves in the direction of the igniter plug 34 until the end 31, of the trip 21, comes in contact with the cap 10, of the hammer 3. The center of the hole 24 will now be at a point 58, where line 59 crosses circle 25. As the center of the hole 24 continues around the path 25, the trip 21 compresses the spring 5 by pushing the hammer 3 in the direction of the igniter plug` 34, said hammer in turn carrying with it the spring 7 and the rod 9. In this manner the lever 14, which is connected to the rod 9, revolves the rod 36, until the contact piece41 touches the contact piece 42, when a circuit is completed by means of the rods 34 and 37, and wires 53 and 54, with a battery or other electrical source, and a current of electricity flows through said contact pieces 41 and 42, rods 34 and 37, and wires 53 and 54. The center of hole 24 will now be at point G0, where line 61 crosses the circle 25. When the center of hole 24 is at any desired point between 58 and 60 on the circle 25, the inclined plane 30 on the trip 21 comes in contact with the end of the adjusting screw 29, and gradually raises the end 31 of the trip 21, until, at any desired point, as 62, on circle 25, where line 63 crosses circle 25, the end 31 of trip 21, slips into the hole 11 of the cap 10. Thilc the center of 24 is moving from G0 to G2 on path 25, the spring 7, as well as spring 5, is being compressed, as when the contact pieces 41 and 42 being in contact, the head 8 of rod 9 is stationary, and when the end 31 of trip 21 slips into the hole 11 of the cap 10, the hammer 3 is returned to its original position, as shown, against the butter 17; lirst, under the influence of both the springs 7 and 5, and until the hammer 3 strikes the head 8 of rod 9, which suddenly separates the pieces 41 and 42 producing` a spark; and second, under the influence of the spring 5 from the separation of the contact pieces 41 and 42 until the hammer 3 rests against the buffer 17, holding the contact pieces 41 and 42 apart. It is of advantage to hold the Contact pieces apart as in my construction, for if it is not done the suction of a fresh charge inte the combustion chamber of an explosive engine often causes the contact pieces to be forced together, prematurely igniting the incoming charge and causing a backfire. The center of the hole 24 continues on around the path 25 from the point 62 and the operation of the device, as dcscribed, is repeated.

In starting an explosive engine, to which my :improved igniting device is attached` the crank is placed slightly beyond its dead center when the contact pieces 41 and 42 are separated., producing a spark and igniting the charge in the combustion chamber, and driving the piston forward. The center oit the hole 24 is then arranged to be at the point G2 on the path 25. As the speed of the engine increases it is necessary to ignite the charge some distance before the piston gets to the end of its stroke, or the crank gets to its dead center, to get the most power from the engine.

By turning the adjusting screw 29 to push the end 31 of the trip 21 nearer the edge of the hole 11 in the cap 10, the end 31 slips into the hole 11 before the center of the hole 24 reaches the point 62 on the path 25, and the contact pieces 41 and 42, being separated, produce a spark at any desired point before the engine crank reaches its dead center.

The construction and arrangement of various parts of my iniproved igniting device, may be varied from what is shown, without departing from the spirit andl scope of my invention.

1 claim as my invention,-

1. The combination, in an explosive engine, of an igniting plug havinga movable rod and mechanism for operating the movable rod in said igniting plug, said mechanism consisting of a casing` inclosing a ha1nmer and a spring for holding said'hammer in its normal position when out of action, a second spring in said hammer, the two springs coperatively returning said hammer to its normal position and in so doing operating the movable rod in said plug and a trip for operating said hammer.

Q. In an explosive engine in which the charge is ignited by an electric spark, the combination, of an igniting plug having a stationary and a movable rod with contact pieces and mechanism for operating said movable rod, said mechanism consisting of a hammer and a spring for inclosing and holding said hammer in its normal position, a second spring in said hammer, the two springs operating said movable rod in said plug by means of said hammer, a trip for operating said hammer and means for adjusting the operation of said hammer by said trip, whereby the timing of the separation of said contact pieces may be varied.

In a self contained mechanism for operating the movable rod of the igniting plug in an explosive engine, the combination, of a hollow cylindrical hammer,surrounded by a coiled spring for holding said hammer in its normal position, a second spring in said hammer, the two springs cooperatively returning said hammer to its normal position, a trip for operating said hammer, means to adjust the operation of said hammer by said trip and means to hold said trip in an operative position against said hammer.

il. A hollow cylindrical hammer surrounded by a spring to hold said hammer in its normal position, and inclosing a .coiled spring, the two springs cooperatively returning said hammer to its normal position, connections between said hammer and the rmivable rod of an electric igniting plug, a trip to operate said hammer and means to operate said trip.

The combination, in an explosive engine having` a combustion chamber, of an igniting plugl with two rods extending through it and into said combustion chamber, one of said rods being movable and having an arm on which is mounted a contact piece straight across its face and the other oit said rods being stationary and having a Contact piece mounted spirally thereon, and means to operate said movable rod, said means consisting ot a hollow cylindrical hammer surrounded by a spring and inclosing another spring, and an adjustable trip.

G. An igniting plug with a stationary and a movable rod extending` through it, said movable rod having an arm on which is mounted a ,straight contact piece and said stationary rod having a contact piece mounted in such a position as to allow for equal wear along both contact pieces, means to lock said stationary rod in any position desired, a hollow cylindrical hammer operatively connected. to said movable rod and having an outside and an inside spring, both of said springs being suitable for separating said contact pieces by means or' said hammer and one of said springs holding said contact pieces apart when the hammer is out of action, a trip for operating said hammer and means for adjusting said trip, .whereby the timing of the separation of said contact Lpieces may be varied.

7. In an electric igniting device for explosive engines, the combination, of aplug having a stationary and a movable rod with Contact pieces, a hammer for operating said movable rod, a spring in said hammer and in contact with means for operating said movable rod, another spring outside and in contact with said hammer for holding said hammer in its normal position and the said contact pieces apart at the same time, a trip for operating said hammer, means to yadjust said trip in operating said hammer and means to operate said trip.

8. A hammer having wound thereon a coiled spring and inclosing a second coiled spring, means to operatively connect said hammer and the movable rod of an electrical igniting plug, a trip for operating said hammer and means for adjusting the operation of said hammer by said trip, substantially as set forth.

9. In an electric igniting device for explosive engines, the combination, oi' an igniting plug having a stationary and a movable rod extending through it, said stationary and movable rods having contact pieces mounted thereon, said rods adapted to be adjusted to allow for equal wear along said Contact pieces, a easing forming a guide and inclosing a cylindrical longitudinally operated hammer and springs for operating the said movable rod and inclosing an adjustable trip for operating said hammer.

l0. In a mechanism for operating the movable rod of an electric igniting plug for explosive engines, the combination, with a casing forming a .guide for a longitudinally operated hammer, of a movable rod, adjustable means to operate said hammer, elastic means to return and hold said hammer in its normal position and external means to operatively connect said hammer and said movable rod.

11. A easing inclosing a longitudinally operated hammer, a trip 'or operating said hammer, two springs adapted to coperatively return and hold said hammer to its normal position, a spring adapted to hold said trip in an operative position against said hammer and means to adjust said trip whereby the timing oit' the return of said hammer may be varied, said means consisting of a screw having an indexed head.

12. In an electric igniting device for explosive engines, the combination, with an igniting plug having a stationary and a movable rod therein and with contact pieces, of a casing forming a guide and inclosing longitudinally acting means for operating said movable rod to bring together, separate and hold apart said contact pieces and adjustable means for varying the timing of said operation.

13. In an electric igniting device for eX- plosive engines, the combination, With an igniting plug having a stationary and a movable rod therein and With contact pieces, said contact pieces adapted to be adjusted to allow for equal Wear, of a casing bored to form a Aguide for a cylindrical longitudinally operated hammer, a trip for operating said hammer1 to bring together said contact pieces, adjustable means to release said trip from said hammer and means to return and hold said hammer to its normal position and thereby separate said contact pieces.

14:. In an electric igniting device for eX- plosive engines, the combination, With an igniting plug having a stationary and a movable rod therein and With contact pieces, oi a casing forming a guide for a hammer, and a trip for operating said hammer to bring together said contact pieces, means to operate said trip, adjustable means to release said trip from said hammer and means to return and hold said hammer to its normal position.

l5. In an electric igniting device for explosive engines, the combination, with an igniting plug having a stationary and a moi7 able rod therein and with contact pieces, said stationary rod adapted to be adjusted to allow 'for equal Wear along said Contact pieces, of a casing forming a guide and inclosing.longitudinally acting means for operating said movable rod and varying the timing of said operation, whereby said contact pieces may be brought together, separated and held apart, substantially as set forth.

16. In an igniting device for explosive engines, the combination, with an igniting plug having a stationary and a movable rod therein and with contact pieces, of a hammer for operating said movable rod, a trip for operating said hammer, elastic means to return and hold said hammer in its normal position after being acted upon by said trip, a connection between said movable rod and said hammer and slidably connected with said hammer by elastic means, whereby said connection is acted upon and operated in one direction by said elastic means to bring together said contact pieces, and in the opposite direction by said hammer to separate said contact pieces.

17. In an igniting device, a plug having a stationary and a movable rod with contact pieces, a hammer slidably mounted in a casing and moved in one direction by means of a trip and in the opposite direction by elastic means between said casing and said hammer, and a connection between said movable rod and said hammer and slidably connected with said hammer by elastic means, said connection being moved in one direction by said elastic means and in another direction by said hammer.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LUCIAN C. JACKSON.

lVitnesses ALFRED HURRELL, Taurina B. VALsH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, 'by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

